Moroccan Rugs: The 6 Rules For Creating A Bedding Combo That Will Make Bedtime Even More Exciting (+ 16 Combos To Prove It)

In true Jess fashion, because I have officially decided to design my living room first, I can’t stop thinking about my bedroom. I could honestly get a doctorate in avoidance, that’s how much I excel at it. But hey, the great thing about this particular character flaw is that I can still use it as blog material. Everyone but my living room wins. I beat the system!!

So yes, I’ve been thinking about bedding A LOT lately because I think I want it as the main source of pattern in the room. A way to still have a calm, peaceful space that’s got some excitement in the sheets (aka not all-white/neutral bed linens). And since quarantine is bound to last for a good while longer, that’s the only excitement those sheets are seeing for the foreseeable future. Mixing it up will be necessary.

photo by tessa neustadt | from: scott’s bedroom makeover with leesa + get the look

But the question is how and how much pattern are we talking here? Well, there are a few ways to attack this depending on the level of “excitement” you want. Here is what you (and I) should think about before shopping:

Boldness Of Color Pallete: In the photo above, Scott kept his color palette neutral but with lots of contrast and textures. It says, “Hey, I’m not like those other simple beds. I’m a ‘cool’ bed.” While in the bedroom below, it has a variety of saturated colors that say, “I’m very cool, very fun, and do it with freaking ease baby.” Or you could do something in the middle with a soft color palette and bold pattern, like in the opening photo. It’s like Goldilocks but instead of beds, it’s bedding.
How Many Patterns??: How “exciting” or “loud” do you want to go? Are you someone who is good with two patterns or five? And don’t forget that a blanket or a pillow’s texture can be considered a pattern… like with a chunky knit!
Material Options: Speaking of texture, you should think about what materials are on your bed (ie linen, cotton, knits, etc). Are you like Brian who doesn’t like sleeping on linen sheets? Or do you enjoy their weightiness and LOVE how they look? The right amount of material/textures will give your bed added (quiet) visual interest.
Pick Interesting, Not Neutral Combos: Go for something like a peach and dark olive green combo, or clay and salmon. Don’t be afraid to play with color.

design by oliver m. furth | photo by douglas friedman | via architectural digest

Ok, I left one topic out of that above list because it might be the most important when mixing exciting bedding and that is PATTERN SCALE VARIATION. This is what you want to have:

photo by tessa neustadt | from: sylvia’s makeover: ricky’s bedroom

Have At Least One Component Be A Solid Color: Unless you want it to be a non-stop visual pattern party in your bed, you are going to want at least one solid (two is fun if you want to play with colors). This could be any component – your duvet, comforter, sheets, end of bed blanket, etc. I do think that having a solid color as one of your larger pieces will help the patterns shine more though:)
Mix Pattern Scales Like Your Life Depends On It: We talk about this A LOT on here but that’s because we mean it. Make sure that you vary your pattern scales. If you have say, a small-scale pattern on your sheets, then pick a larger pattern scale for your duvet or end of bed blanket. Or visa versa.

Basically have at least of solid, a small scale pattern, and larger scale pattern in some configuration on your bed. And like I said before a “texture” like a knit can be considered a pattern.

photo by veronica crawford | from: our bedroom update (also how I feel about having a tv in the bedroom)

Now that you have the idea down let’s get into these bedding combos shall we?

1. Dusk Linen Sheet Set With Pillowcases + Gwendolen Coverlet + Light Gray Chunky Knit Bed Blanket | 2. Grape Leaf Linen Sheet Set + Estela Black and White Duvet Cover + INGABRITTA | 3. Organic Washed Cotton Percale Sheet Set + Quilted Sham Set + Linen Duvet Cover + Terracotta European Flax Linen Classic Stripe Box Stitch Quilt & Shams | 4. Peach Linen Fitted Sheet + Flounced Duvet Cover Set + Kahelo Quilt Set | 5. Clay Washed Linen Solid Sheet Set + Blush Washed Hemp Solid Pillowcase Set + Anholt Stripes Duvet Cover + Clay Chunky Knit Bed Blanket | 6. Pencil Stripes Linen Sheet Set With Pillowcases + Linen Dijon Duvet Cover + Ivory And Black Woven Cross Rylan Quilt | 7. Slate Percale Sheet Set + House No. 23 Marlo Duvet Set + Solid Herringbone Throw Blanket | 8. Navy Imperfect Plus Sheet Set + Luxe Duvet Cover + Lightweight Quilt

Again, I don’t hate all-white bedding but these are SO much more interesting to look at. I love #1 even if it’s not the look I’m going for in my room. But #3 and #5 are really intriguing. They are bold in color but still have a pop of pattern that I think makes them way more interesting. Special shout out to the quilt in #3. It might be my favorite! I kinda have a thing for striped as you are about to see…

This bedding combo by Three Birds Renovations is making my eyes sing. I LOVE that horizontal striped top sheet and vertical striped duvet cover combo. Simple but interesting and the slight color difference is magical. Then you have the slightly smaller scale but different euro shams (again in similar but different tones). To top it off you have had the unexpected but grounding choice of the green bed blanket and bold gold pillowcases. This is a neutral color palette that is anything but boring.

So with all that drooling done with, let’s move onto some more combos…

1. Cedar Stripe Linen Sheet Set With Pillowcases + Cedar Linen Duvet Cover Set + Kenzie Oversized Throw | 2. Natural Flax European Flax Linen Classic Stripe Sheet Set + Dusk Linen Duvet Cover Set + Coyuchi Pismo Organic Blanket | 3. Olive & Peach Stripe Linen Duvet Cover + Cream Linen Duvet Cover + Cosmos Quilt Set | 4. Tic Stripe Organic Cotton Sheet Set + Dark Clay Heavyweight Linen Blend Comforter & Sham Set + Natural Chunky Knit Bed Blanket | 5. Printed Flannel Sheet Set + Neutral Micro Texture Comforter Set + Dark Clay Heavyweight Linen Blend Quilt | 6. Mist Linen Fitted Sheet + Carter Duvet + Ian Oversized Throw | 7. Lua Floral Sheet Set + Wendell Dusty Pink Quilted Duvet + Winter + Summer Cotton Coverlet | 8. Terracotta Linen Sheet Sets + Moderna Linen Quilt + Natural Chunky Knit Bed Blanket

I love that #1 and #3 have a soft but exciting look to them and I think those striped sheets in #1 are my actual dream sheets. But I really love how playful #5 and #7 are. Who would have thought delicate floral sheets would be something I would ever have loved past the mid-’90s?? 2021 is WILD y’all!

So that’s it! Now that we are in a new year and maybe you are shifting a little bit of focus away from your home office (?) and you wanting to freshen up your bedroom a little? Are you also wanting some more color and pattern to inject some excitement? I know all I want is my bed to look cool, inviting, and calming. Is that too much to ask?? You tell me!

And in case you want a little reminder sheet of what we learned today (and our favorite way to make a bed), here’s a graphic for you! Pin it so you’ll have it forever:)

Love you, mean it.